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MVHS senior offered over $500,000 in scholarships from 15 schools

Mia Vaquero image with colleges.
MVHS senior offered over $500,000 in scholarships from 15 schools

Mia Vaquero, senior at Mount Vernon High School, is graduating with a 90.71 in June 2023. She has committed to John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a full-ride scholarship. She plans to major in criminal justice with the hope of becoming an FBI agent. 

She will be the first person in her family to pursue higher education. Mia’s family is from Mexico, and they had to work constantly to make ends meet. She saw how hard her parents worked for her, and it inspired her to find something that she will enjoy while providing for her family. 

Her favorite accomplishment from her time in high school was achieving the Principal’s Honor Roll. After being diagnosed with a learning disability, Mia had to work harder than her peers to achieve the same success. In her freshman year, she struggled and did not get good grades. Despite this, she spent hours studying to ensure that she graduated at the top of her class.

To stay ahead, Mia has attended after school classes and worked closely with her teachers to ensure high grades. Mia attributes some of her success to her teachers helping through the complex college application process. She was worried about getting financial aid but had the support needed to apply and receive it.

“Since we have Dr. (Pauline) Pearce as our principal now, it’s definitely helped,” said Mia. “She has built workshops to help us fill out FAFSA, how to choose colleges and how to get more money for college. And I have many teachers who helped me with my scholarships, essays and honors programs.”

Mia also donates her time by helping at food pantries and handing out food for the church to support the community.

Mia was accepted into 15 schools, received five full-rides and was offered a cumulative $500,000 in scholarships. 

When she was little, she never imagined being able to tell people she got into 15 schools, and now she has the opportunity to go to college for free. 

Students in front of Jacob Burns Film Center
Mount Vernon High School students travel to Burns Film Center

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, a group of Mount Vernon High School students visited Jacob Burns Film Center to visit the Classroom to Screening Center and watch "Landfill Harmonic." They were accompanied by Department Administrator of Humanities Eric Brand; Lisa Dellaporte, English teacher; Alexandra Sherlock, English teacher; and Janelle Manson, English as a New Language (ENL) teacher.

Students at tea station
Mount Vernon High School holds Mental Health Awareness activities

Mount Vernon High School held a full week of events from Monday, May 22, 2023 to Friday, May 26, 2023, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health activities were available throughout the week for all students and staff within the building. Mental Health Awareness Week was held a week after International Baccalaureate Programme testing and prior to New York State Regents tests, so students were in a position to relax. 

Mia Vaquero image with colleges.
MVHS senior offered over $500,000 in scholarships from 15 schools

Mia Vaquero, senior at Mount Vernon High School, is graduating with a 90.71 in June 2023. She has committed to John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a full-ride scholarship. She plans to major in criminal justice with the hope of becoming an FBI agent. 

Ashley Nembhard
MVHS student graduating early

Ashley Nembhard, senior at Mount Vernon High School, is graduating early in June 2023. She has attended MVHS for three years but was able to achieve the required credits to graduate ahead of schedule. She will graduate with a 98 average. She was on the High Honor Roll every semester of high school. 

Students holding up college signs
Mount Vernon High School holds College Decision Day pep rally

Mount Vernon High School hosted its first College Decision Day pep rally on Friday, May 5, 2023. Students wore shirts and held signs with their college choices and were cheered on by cheerleaders, guidance counselors, administration and other students.

Mount Vernon High School students on stage presenting.
Entrepreneurial program participates in Knight Tank event

Mount Vernon High School’s Career and Technical Education Department’s entrepreneurial program partnered with Iona University to host a “Knight Tank” event on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Mount Vernon High School. The event was inspired by the show “Shark Tank” and allowed student teams to present their business model to local guest judges, including Congressman Jamaal Bowman.